SLU pleased after first scrimmage

HAMMOND - Nathan Stanley completed 5 of 8 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown while Jarrett Johnson and redshirt freshman Jae Cutno combined for seven receptions as the Southeastern Louisiana football team held its first scrimmage Monday evening in Strawberry Stadium.

Freshman C.J. Patton rushed for 24 yards on seven carries, while senior David Durden gained 23 in the Lions’ 60-play scrimmage. Freshman Ryan Adams booted a 33-yard field goal on his first attempt.

“We came out with no injuries, which is always the most important part when you’re scrimmaging like this,” SLU coach Mike Lucas said. “I thought our running backs ran the ball hard. Zeke Jones ran the ball well, and (redshirt freshman) Jordan Wells had some real nice runs.”

Defensively, Devan Walker earned a sack on the first series, while the freshman tandem of Jonathan Kinchen and Galen Nailor combined for one. Frank Bryant forced a fumble, while redshirt freshman Scott Korte blocked a field goal and defensive back Denzel Thompson blocked a punt.

“(Thompson) can cover so well, because he’s 6-3 and long,” Lucas said of the true freshman. “We really wanted to see how physical he could be, and he came up and made a couple of big time tackles. He’s going to be pushing for playing time as a freshman.”

Brian Young and Stanley, who tossed a 57-yard TD strike to Johnson, each worked with the No. 1 offense.

Johnson caught a team-high four passes for 72 yards while Cutno, a former Central High standout, had three receptions for 34 yards.

Young went 4 of 5, while freshman Brian Ensminger was 5-for-10 for 52 yards and Tanner Wells 5-for-9 for 25 yards.

SLU will practice Tuesday with a light workout in shells before beginning classes Wednesday.

Tulane

BULLOCK MOVES FROM QB TO FB: In New Orleans, Tulane on Monday switched redshirt-freshman Taylor Bullock from quarterback to fullback.

“Obviously, Ryan Griffin is the quarterback; and D.J. Ponder has really come on, and he’s playing really well, so he’s a capable backup,” Tulane coach Bob Toledo said. “You usually don’t play more than two, and (Bullock) is a kid who likes to play football. He was a safety in high school as well.

“We just felt that he had an opportunity to play at fullback and also be on special teams. This morning, he did some special teams stuff and really caught our eye. He’s a good athlete, 6-2, 225 pounds and he can run. He can ... play as opposed to being a guy holding a clipboard on the sidelines.”

Bullock, from Catholic High in New Iberia, sat out last season and opened camp No. 3 on the depth chart at quarterback.

As a result of the move, two freshmen - Leon Blouin IV and Nick SanGiacomo - will compete for the No. 3 spot. Also in the mix is freshman walk-on Jordy Joseph.

They also lauded Howard, a senior fullback who sat out last year with injuries; Cole, a sophomore offensive lineman competing for a starting job at left tackle; Deamer, a sophomore battling for a defensive tackle’s job; and Shief, a sophomore receiver in his first fall camp.